Bride price: How much will be enough?

Love has its own cost. This cost can’t be measured. The heart is always at risk of either having a blissful or broken experience. But beyond the risk of loving a woman, and seeking for her hand in marriage, comes the cost of bringing her home. Yes, marriage rites have become a venture for a fortune for some tribes and families in Nigeria.

To marry, more than ever can be like to acquire a product from the market. Different cultures in Nigeria approach marriage rites differently. A young man who desires to settle down should, after cross-checking the lady to ascertain her suitability for marriage, inquire into the demands in the marriage rites prevalent within that ethnic group or girl’s family. The requirements made available by the girl’s family can become a challenge.

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A list of items to procure and the amount of money to pay to different individuals in the family is always presented. The bride’s immediate family, the extended family and finally the community are the primary beneficiaries on the list. There is a stunning account of a family who had sponsored their daughter through school to the higher level of education and who after that demanded that the potential son-in-law pay up for the educational expenses – that is to say, they wanted a recoup on investment.

In some cultures, there are essential items that must feature on a marriage rites list. Some of those items may be negotiable in regards to their monetary value, yet there are others that are just non-negotiable. It takes money to get a bride from some cultures in Nigeria. Love is made to come at an extra cost, and most men have delayed their marriage because of financial involvement. It shouldn’t be that way. No amount of money requested can be enough to satisfy a family.

Bride price shouldn’t become an obstruction to love. The man shouldn’t be made to spend his entire fortune just to be married. The couple will have enough financial burdens after the wedlock and as a result, shouldn’t empty their purse before such times. What’s important is the new relationship that comes into existence through the marriage. Cultures in Nigeria should look into their bride price demands.

By Itoro Orok

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